Florist Discriminated Against Gay Couple, Washington Supreme Court Rules -
SEATTLE — A florist who refused to sell flowers for a same-sex wedding cannot claim religious belief as a defense under the state’s anti-discrimination laws, Washington’s high court said Thursday, in a case
that has been watched around the nation by religious and civil rights groups.
Ms. Stutzman herself, the court said, contradicted the argument
that wedding flowers were a statement when she said in a deposition that providing flowers for a wedding between Muslims would not necessarily constitute an endorsement of Islam, nor would providing flowers for an atheist couple endorse atheism
In looking at what sorts of conduct or service constitute free speech, protected under the Constitution, they found
that even if Ms. Stutzman was artistic in her flower arrangements, the statements she made in selling the arrangements were not protected free speech, as defined by the United States Supreme Court.
